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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a grant program for nonprofit organizations supporting |
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employees of the Department of Public Safety; authorizing voluntary |
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contributions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 521.012 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 521.012. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR |
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NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF |
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PUBLIC SAFETY. (a) When a person applies for an original or |
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renewal driver's license or personal identification certificate |
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under this chapter, the person may contribute $3 or more to the |
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grant program for nonprofit organizations supporting employees of |
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the Department of Public Safety established under Section 411.013, |
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Government Code. |
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(b) The department shall: |
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(1) include space on the first page of each |
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application for an original or renewal driver's license or personal |
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identification certificate that allows a person applying for an |
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original or renewal driver's license or personal identification |
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certificate to indicate the amount that the person is voluntarily |
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contributing to the grant program; and |
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(2) provide an opportunity for the person to |
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contribute to the grant program during the application process for |
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an original or renewal driver's license or personal identification |
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certificate on the department's Internet website. |
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(c) The department shall send any contribution made under |
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this section to the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the |
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nonprofit organizations supporting employees of the Department of |
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Public Safety account established under Section 411.013, |
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Government Code, not later than the 14th day of each month. Before |
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sending the money to the comptroller, the department may deduct |
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money equal to the amount of reasonable expenses for administering |
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this section. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 522, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 522.0297 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 522.0297. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR |
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NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF |
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PUBLIC SAFETY. (a) When a person applies for an original or |
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renewal commercial driver's license under this chapter, the person |
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may contribute $3 or more to the grant program for nonprofit |
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organizations supporting employees of the Department of Public |
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Safety established under Section 411.013, Government Code. |
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(b) The department shall: |
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(1) include space on the first page of each |
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|
application for an original or renewal commercial driver's license |
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|
that allows a person applying for an original or renewal commercial |
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|
driver's license to indicate the amount that the person is |
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|
voluntarily contributing to the grant program; and |
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|
(2) provide an opportunity for the person to |
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|
contribute to the grant program during the application process for |
|
|
an original or renewal commercial driver's license on the |
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|
department's Internet website. |
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|
(c) The department shall send any contribution made under |
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|
this section to the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the |
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nonprofit organizations supporting employees of the Department of |
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|
Public Safety account established under Section 411.013, |
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Government Code, not later than the 14th day of each month. Before |
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sending the money to the comptroller, the department may deduct |
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money equal to the amount of reasonable expenses for administering |
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this section. |
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SECTION 3. Section 411.013, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) to read as follows: |
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(d) The department shall establish and administer a grant |
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program for and shall disburse funds to nonprofit organizations |
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that provide support to employees of the department, including |
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support for family members of employees of the department who have |
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been killed or injured in the line of duty. |
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(e) Grant funds may be used only for: |
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(1) providing assistance and support to: |
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(A) employees of the department; or |
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(B) family members of employees of the department |
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who have been killed or injured in the line of duty; or |
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(2) memorial signs for employees of the department who |
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have been killed in the line of duty. |
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(f) The department shall establish: |
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(1) grant application procedures; |
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(2) guidelines relating to grant amounts; and |
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(3) criteria for evaluating grant applications. |
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(g) The nonprofit organizations supporting employees of the |
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Department of Public Safety account is created as a dedicated |
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account in the general revenue fund of the state treasury. Money in |
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the account may be appropriated only to the department for purposes |
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of the grant program established under Subsection (d). Funds |
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disbursed under Subsection (d) are subject to audit by the |
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comptroller. |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a person who applies for an original or renewal driver's license, |
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commercial driver's license, or personal identification |
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certificate on or after January 1, 2026. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |